The American Public Power Association (APPA) selected Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) to receive one of its Excellence in Public Power Communications Awards. The award was presented at the APPA Customer Connections conference in Nashville. The 2015 SMMPA annual report received the Award of Excellence, APPA’s highest award for public power communications. SMMPA's Manager of Communications and Renewable Energy, Dan Hayes accepted the award on SMMPA’s behalf.

SMMPA’s 2015 Annual Report, which was distributed in April of 2016, takes a unique approach to telling the story of SMMPA and its Members. In the style of graphic novels, the cover illustration portrays a fictional SMMPA character as an action hero who represents all Member communities. Inside, each spread features a 3-panel scene with rapid-fire dialogue. The report grabs attention with unconventional graphics and a creative writing style to complement the graphics.